When you prime a Svea, you want the valve CLOSED when you impress your friends with the fireball. I use a nosespray bottle (with the straw removed) with alcohol for priming. Then it's not so scary. When the priming flame is almost out, you'll hear some sizzeling/hissing going on in the orfice. That means it's time to crack the valve. You'll get an nice calm ignition with no fireworks. If you prime with the valve open, you lose the backpressure the tank reqires to feed the burner, and way too rich flame.
Those stoves are designed to burn with a pot in place and yup, it's more flame than usually needed. Throttle it back to where the flame is just short of the edge of the pot bottom.
Glad you like the stove! It's my favorite too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />